ACS Data Users Group

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  • 1.  ACS School Enrollment numbers consistently higher than local data

    Posted 10-21-2024 04:01 PM

    Hi -

    I was comparing data from the ACS (https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2022.S1401?g=160XX00US2511000) and the MA Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education (https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/statereport/schoolattendingchildren.aspx) on school enrollment for Cambridge MA. The ACS numbers are consistently higher (well beyond the ACS MOE) than the state's numbers, though I believe I am looking at the same set (K-12, regardless of school type). Have others found this to be the case in other places? What could be the explanation?

    ACS 5-Year K-12 School Enrollment (ACS) School Year K-12 School Enrollment (School Attending Children Report)
    2006-2010 8,968 2009-2010 7,243
    2016-2020 9,545 2019-2020 8,199
    2018-2022 9,708 2021-2022 8,026


  • 2.  RE: ACS School Enrollment numbers consistently higher than local data

    Posted 10-22-2024 03:49 PM

    Hello,

    The ACS measures K-12 students in households rather than enrollment in schools, so I wonder if the higher enrollment estimates for the ACS reflects students living in Cambridge, MA who are enrolled in school outside of the city--through a school choice or similar program.



  • 3.  RE: ACS School Enrollment numbers consistently higher than local data

    Posted 10-22-2024 03:58 PM

    Hi Mark -

    Thanks for the reply! That is a reasonable suggestion, but the School Attending Children reports include all schools, including regional, out of district, in-state and out-of-state private schools. As far as I can tell the two sources should be covering the same populations.